Overeating on holidays like Thanksgiving is more than acceptable in our culture – it’s expected.
Why not binge on mashed potatoes, gravy, and pecan pie? Thanksgiving only comes once a year, after all. Sure, you might gain a few pounds over the holiday season, but you have until New Year’s to worry about those.
New research suggests that the holiday binge might have a less visible effect than the extra weight around your midsection. Switching from a healthy diet to one high in fat and sugar – even for just a day – might allow obesity-linked microbes to dominate the communities of microorganisms found in your gut.
The study used mice with transplanted human intestinal microbes to investigate how switching from a low fat, plant-based diet to a Western diet influences the community of gut microbes responsible for metabolism and weight gain. Researchers were surprised by how quickly microbial communities in the gut responded to exposure to a high fat, high sugar diet.
A better understanding of the types of microbes that flourish under certain diets might help scientists develop probiotics that aid in the digestion of foods.
For more information, visit:
- Junk-food binge alters gut microbes in less than a day
- The Gordon Lab at Washington University in St. Louis’ School of Medicine
Related posts:
- Savoring Gratitude: Three Tips toward Thanksgiving Appreciation
- Top 7 Posts About Ideas for a Green Thanksgiving
(Image courtesy of Sifu Renka at flickr under a Creative Commons license)
